For the past several years the team members at our N.C. Cooperative Extension office
here in Brunswick County have gathered together to bake cookies in December. The
office’s training kitchen is usually used for cooking classes, demonstrations and food
prep, but on this day, it was filled with staff member preparing their favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Like many holiday events, the cookie baking tradition allows us to enjoy each other’s
company in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to sharing cookies with each other, we
made additional packages and distributed them to departments within the Government Center that we work with throughout the year. This was our way of sharing the cheer and letting them know we value their partnership.

Joining in on the fun was Johnathan Blue the newest staff member at the office. He
joined us last June as the Area STEM Specialist funded through NC A&T University. He is housed here in our N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Brunswick County Center but his area is the 25 counties in southeastern North Carolina. He works with 4-H agents, volunteers, teachers and community leaders to make meaningful learning connections through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Blue conducts workshops and competitions as well as develops lesson plans and curriculum for these educators. His subject matter is varied and has included robotics, computer coding, drones and esports. If you want to know more about STEM and what Blue has to offer, you can reach out to him at jhblue@ncat.edu.
In addition to being Blue’s first cookie day and he admitted it was first time making cut-out cookies. He was excited to share his new skill with his two daughters. Also joining us for cookie baking was Dalton Dockery, Southeast District Extension Director and Julie Hayworth-Perman, Marketing and Communications Specialist with N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.

N.C. Cooperative Extension here in Brunswick County is an educational outreach from NC State University and NC A&T University. In addition to our new STEM Specialist, we have professionals that work in 4-H Youth Development, Consumer Horticulture, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Lawn and Garden, Food Safety and Nutrition, Local Foods and Pest Management. Staff members for Brunswick County Teen Court and Brunswick County COSS JCPC Restitution are also local team members. Master Gardener Volunteers, Extension Master Food Volunteers and 4-H volunteers assist with local programming. Our office is located at the Government Center in Bolivia.

We hope you have some holiday traditions that you share with family, friends and co-
workers.

Syracuse is a Family and Consumer Science team member and can be reached at NC Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 910-253-2610 or by email at clsyracu@ncsu.edu